Multiple end spinning and twisting apparatus



23, 1 K. M. MOLELLAN 2,715,753

MULTIPLE END SPINNING AND TWISTING APPARATUS Filed May 10, 1954 lnven lror't Kenne th I"I.I"I eLLan,

His z lwlrorzzg United States Patent EEULTIPLE END SPINNING AND TWISTING APPARATUS Kenneth M. McLellan, Cieveiand, Ohio, assignor to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application May 10, 1954, Serial No. 428,649

9 Claims. c1. 1s s This invention relates to spinning apparatus. More particularly the invention relates to apparatus adapted to the simultaneous spinning and twisting of a plurality of yarns under similar conditions, the apparatus being particularly adapted in a process where the plurality of spun filaments having a twist are brought together to form a strand which is then subsequently advanced in the form of a helix or a plurality of sequentially formed helices which are subjected to various processing treatments then separated prior to collection.

In the spinning of a plurality of filament yarns by a continuous process where they are brought together to form a running strand or bundle and in which process there are employed thread advancing reels for storing the strand or bundle in the form of helices which are subjected to processing treatments, it has been found to be advantageous to impart a twist to the individual spun yarns to facilitate their separation and collection.

It is known to rotate a filament extruding device or a plurality of such extruding devices to impart twists to the yarns being formed. Of the various devices, none have been found satisfactory for constant, individualized, extruding rates of a spinning solution being formed into yarns; or the devices being constructed in a manner so as to provide for a minimum of rotating parts and sealing means therefor against the escape of a spinning solution.

Leaks beyond the gear pump cannot be tolerated since loss of a spinning solution will give varying denier yarn. Rotating seals, irrespective of construction, generally eventually develop leaks resulting in solution losses and possible contamination of the solutions. Rotating seals also generally require separate or additional driving means to the driving means for a spin pump.

This invention advantageously provides for a multiple yarn spinning apparatus of compact and simple construction where a minimum of seals against the escape of a spinning solution are provided, where each rotating extruding device has its own pump, and where each is subject to the same constant conditions, and all pumps being commonly driven and supplied with a spinning solution from a common source. Advantageously, the solution to be extruded by each spinneret and formed into yarns is passed through a path leading through a solution gear measuring means within the body of the apparatus; the path, for a portion of its length, extends through the core or shaft of one of the measuring gears of a gear pump, thence through a conduit joining the path to a spinneret that is mounted on the extension of such conduit.

Since the conduit is joined to the core of one of the gear pumps it rotates with the gear to which it is joined. The seal is therefore in the pump housing. A plurality of such rotating spinnerets can be positioned in each pump block, and the pumps are combined in a manner so that each of said plurality of pumps and spinnerets is driven by the same power source, and the yarn solution to be extruded is fed to each spinneret from the same internal solution supply source to each gear pump and through each gear rotated spinneret. Also, the entire 2,715,753 Patented Aug. 23, 1955 "ice assembly may be advantageously mounted relative to a trough containing a filament coagulating liquid in which the plurality of spinnerets are positioned. Further, when the spinnerets are positioned in the coagulating liquid they are all adapted to be rotated at a similarly constant predetermined rate during spinning to impart the same twist into the spun yarns to facilitate their separation from a previously formed bundle or strand.

The advantages 0 fthe multiple end spinning apparatus will be described in greater detail in the following specification and the accompanying drawing, where:

Figure 1 represents in schematic form a multiple-end spinning and processing apparatus;

Figure 2 represents the multiple-end twisting and spinning unit of the apparatus; and

Figure 3 is a section taken across line 33 of Figure 2 of the multiple-end twisting and spinning unit.

In order to facilitate separation of a plurality of yarns that have been combined for processing purposes it has been found advantageous to impart a nominal twist in each yarn, about one turn in to 200 inches. The twist, when backed-up in the running yarn, tends to group the respective filaments of a constituent yarn permitting the yarn to be identified and handled. A nominal twist in a yarn forming one of a plurality in a strand, while assisting in subsequent separation, presents no diificulty for purposes of processing since the filaments forming that yarn when laid against filaments of other yarns can be considered as being in, generally, a parallel relation as if not having any twist. Processing of such a yarn when combined into a strand or bundle proceeds with the same effectiveness as if no twist were imparted.

As shown in the drawing there is positioned in a trough 10 containing an acid coagulating bath 11 a plurality of rotating spinning nozzles 12, 13, 14 mounted in a housing 15. The housing 15 is pivotally supported on a shaft 17 to permit the removal of the rotating spinning nozzles for inspection ptuposes or for replacement reasons. The spinning nozzles are rotated at nominal rates so as to impart a twist of about one turn for every 70-200 inches of running length of yarn. The power for rotation of the gear pumps within the housing is supplied by a drive shaft 18. Upon extrusion from the rotating spinning nozzles 12, 13, 14 the formed yarns 19, 20, 21 are passed about a roller 22 positioned in the bath 11. Then the yarns are combined into a strand or bundle 23 at about the point of contact with the take-up reel 24. While on the reel 24 the strand 23 is formed into a helix and advanced therethrough. From the reel 24 the strand is led to a subsequent reel 25 over which it also is advanced as a helix, and from this reel the strand is led to other similar reels, if desired, and finally to a drier reel 26 whereupon it is subjected to heat. The dried strand 23, formed of three twisted yarns 19, 2%, 21 is led through a guide 28 positioned beyond the drier reel 26 and separated. The individual yarns are then led through the guides 31, 32, 33 to nip-rolls 34, thence through guides 35, 36, 37 onto take-up apparatuses 38, 39, 40.

The separation of the strand 23 is advantageously efiected by a backing up of the twist in each yarn through the insertion of a pointed instrument into the travelling strand so that the twist will group the filaments forming such yarn. The yarns thus identified and separated are then led to their corresponding take-up apparatuses.

The spinning and twisting apparatus advantageously is formed of a plurality of gear pump units having integrated or joined with one of its pumping gears a mass tube having mounted thereon a spinning nozzle. As shown in Figure 2, the housing 15 contains three individual, identical gear pump units 42, 43, 44. The units advantageously may be of the type generally commercially used and known under the trade name as Zenith pumps. Such units generally comprise two rotating gears in meshing are in turn driven by a common drive 18 (only generally shown 1n Figure 1) having mounted thereon gears 56, 57, 58 w1th which they mesh when in driving relation;

The spinning solution follows a tortuous path through each pump .unit and through each pair of measuring and forwarding gears of each pump unit; The several solution passages or paths are joined with a common solution source as the manifold orconduit 63. Conduit 63 is joined to the initial supply source 59 through passage62 and header 60 within thehousing 15. Thus, the solution path encompasses the supply header 60, passage 62,

header 6 3, the path to and about each pair of pumping gears and therefrom through passages65, 66, 67, through the core; of shaft of pumping gears 46, 48,50 into the l respective ,outlets, conduits or mass tubes 69, 70, 71 to the spinning nozzles 72, 73, 74.

Each pair of pumping gears is supplied by itspassage oining the'header 63. Gears 45, 46 are supplied by passage 65; gears 47, 48' are supplied by passage 66; and

gears 49, 50 are supplied by passage 67. After passing through the gears of each pump the solution is forced through outlet passages or mass tubes 69, 7G, 71 respectively. The flow path of each passage 65, 66, 67 is generally reversible and their outlets pass through the core or shaft of the pump gears 46, 48, 50. The core or hollow shaft of each gear 46, 48 and is joined with the mass tubes 69, 7t), 71 respectively, and each mass tube having at its end spinnerets 72, 73, 74 respectively.

There is shown in Figure 3, in greater detail, the flow path for a spinning solution through gear pump 43 and through the outlet 70 in the core of its pumping gear 48. The viscose spinning solution is .suppliedto :the header 61 by the supply inlet 59, thence it flows through passage .62 to the short interconnecting passage 64 into general header 63. The header 63 is tapped by the tortuous path 66which supplies the spinning solution to the gears 47, 48,

V, and the path passes through the gears reversing itself to an extent, as shown, underneath the pump gear 48, and then through the core or shaft 55 of the gear into the mass tube 70. The mass tube 7%) is joined to the shaft or core extension'of the pump gear 48.. A spinneret 73 is mounted at theend of the mass tube 70. The mass tube 70 can be joined to the shaft '55 of the gear 48 in any seal-tight manner as bythreaded connections. The con duit extension or mass tube 70 is desirably firmly secured to the rotating gear 48 within the pump housing so as to 'rotate with the gear. As described it may be secured by'athreaded connection, the threaded connection can be made by extending the hollow shaft 55 of the gear 48 and this hollow shaft extension threadably joinedwith the mass tube 70. Thus, there is no possibility of the escape of any spinning solutionbeyond the gears of the gear pump except that extruded through the spinneret since the mass tube is essentially unified with the cored gear 48.

As shown, the entire pump unit and mass tube as- ;sembly and driving gears may be conveniently desirably I claim:

1. An apparatus'for spinning and twisting yarn comprising; a gear pump for measuring and forwarding a yarn forming solution; a passage for said solution through said gear pump and through one of the gears; and a yarn forming means connected to and rotating with the gear hav. ing the passage of said gear pump.

2. An apparatus for spinning and twisting yarn comprising; a gear pump for measuring and forwarding a yarn forming solution; a housing for said gear pump; a passage for said solution through said housing and through the shaft of a gear of said gear pump; an outlet, conduit 1 joining said housing conduit; and a solution extruding means on said outlet conduit.

3. An apparatus for simultaneously spinning and twistwarding gear pump; a solution inlet and outlet to said gear pump; a passage for said solution through said gear pump and through one of the gears; a conduit joining the passage in said gear; said conduit rotating, with said gear; and an extruding means positioned at the end of said conduit. 7

4. An apparatus for simultaneously spinning and twisting yarn'comprising; a gear pump for measuring and forwarding ayarn forming solutionto'an extruding de-. .vice; an inlet and an outlet to said gear pump; gears in said pump for forwarding a measured amount of a yarn forming solution to said extruding device; a passage in the shaft of one of said gears being the outlet from said gear pump; and a conduit joining said gea'rpassage outlet and rotating with the said gear havingan extruding device for said yarnforming solution at its end. V

5. Anapparatus for simultaneously spinning and twisting a plurality of yarns comprising; a plurality'of solution measuring and forwarding gear pumps; solution inlets and outlets to said gear pumps; a conduit integrated in a gear of each' of said gear pumps, said conduit being the outlet of each of said gear pumps; and an extruding device positioned at the end of each of saidconduits.

6. An apparatus for simultaneously spinning and twisting a plurality of yarns comprising; a plurality of gear pumps for measuring and forwarding a yarn forming solution to' extruding devices; a common drive for said plurality of gear pumps; an inlet and anoutlet to each of con'struction'does not constitute matter nor does it form a part of this invention.

said gear pumps; gears in said pumps for forwarding measured amounts of yarn forming solutions to extruding devices; a passage in the shaft of one of the gears of each of said gear pumps, said passage being the outlet from a the said gear pump; and a conduit joining'each of the gear passage outlets having extruding devices for said yarn forming solutions at their ends.

7. An apparatus for simultaneously spinning and twisting a plurality of'yarns comprising;- a plurality of gear pumps for measuring and forwarding a yarn forming solution to a plurality of extruding devices; a common drive for said plurality of gear pumps; inlets and outlets for the yarn forming solution in said gear pumps; gears in said pumps for forwarding said solution; a passage for said solution in the core of one of the gears in each of said pumps; a conduit joining each of said passages; and yarn solution extruding devices at the end of each of said conduits, said conduits rotating with the gears to which they are joined.

. yond the pump joining each of said gear outlet passages; 7 said conduits rotating with the gears to whichthey are mg a yarn comprising; a solution measuring and for: 5

joined; and a yarn forming solution extruding device at the free end of each of said conduits.

9. An apparatus for simultaneously spinning and twisting a plurality of yarns comprising; a plurality of gear pumps in a common housing for measuring and forwarding a yarn forming solution to a plurality of individual extruding devices; a common drive for said plurality of gear pumps; a common supply of yarn forming solution to said gear pumps; inlets joining said common supply and outlets for the yarn forming solution in each of said gear pumps; said inlets and outlets forming the extremities of a sinuous passage for said yarn forming solution through each of said gear pumps; a portion of said passage for said solution being through the core of one" of the gears in each of said pumps; a conduit extending beyond the pump housing joining each of said gear outlet passages; each of said conduits rotating with the gears to which they are joined; and a yarn solution extruding device at the free end of each of said conduits.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,046,670 Beattey July 7, 1936 2,073,906 Schrink Mar. 16, 1937 2,150,354 Berndt Mar. 14, 1939 

